Baby Two Favorites

There are so many wonderful baby products out on the market today, that it can be super hard to decide what is really necessary, and what is just good marketing. Now that we are on baby number two, I needed to re-evaluate and rethink my essentials for life with two littles. Here's a list of some new baby items that I'm excited about!

Double Stroller // Lamp Dimmer Switch // Diaper Bag // Stuffed Animal // Bouncer // Solly Wrap // Baby Book & Journal // Tea // Weekender Bag // Sleeper // Blanket

Baby Jogger City Select Stroller // This stroller was the first purchase we made after learning we would be welcoming baby two. It has tons of configurations, is as narrow as a single stroller, breaks down to easily fit in my small trunk, is compact enough for pushing through aisles on shopping trips or sidewalks, and can also be used as a single stroller when the double is no longer needed. It is not a 'jogging' stroller, so if you are going to be using it on uneven terrain, this isn't your best bet, but for us, at this time in our life, it is perfect.

Lamp Dimmer Switch // Not something you typically think of as an essential, but once you have one, you'll Never. Go. Back. During the endless middle of the night wakeup calls, this switch has been sooooo amazing to help avoid the shock of harsh light from my beside lamp when I'm half asleep...not to mention Papa T also appreciates not being woken up by a blinding light in the middle of the night. I keep it on the lowest setting when I put baby to bed at night so that I can walk in and check on him when it is dark without waking him up with a bright light. Trust me...just order it already.

Diaper Bag // With two littles in diapers, I needed a new bag that would offer plenty of room for the kitchen sink all of the essentials. I'm not a fan of cutesy prints and patterns, and wanted something that was both stylish and functional. Enter the Downtown Tote from Petunia Pickle Bottom. It has tons of pockets for organizing, is stylish enough to carry as an everyday bag when I no longer need to use it as a diaper bag, and the fabric is a coated canvas that easily wipes clean in case of any spills. And shhhh!...it is coupon eligible at Pottery Barn Kids.

Stuffed Animal // I wanted to have a special heirloom quality stuffed animal to use in G's milestone photos to show just how much he grows month to month, and came across this adorable raccoon from Hazel Village. Of course, big brother C has decided that he loves him too, and tries to sneak off with Max every chance he gets. The backstory: Hazel Village was started on Etsy in 2010 by a 25 year old girl living in Brooklyn, NY. Her stuffed animals are now sold in over 200 stores nationwide. Such a neat backstory, and I think it's so cool to know that this little animal was made in America by someone my age who had a dream six years ago and made it a reality.

Baby Bjorn Bouncer // Baby G has been a such different kid than C at this age, and it soon became apparent that he would much prefer to be sitting up and looking around at the world rather than laying flat on his back or being snuggled up in our favorite Rock'N'Play during the daytime hours. I snagged this bouncer on sale, and it soon became a favorite. The mesh fabric is wonderful for breathability (recall baby G was born in July), slips off easily for washing, lays completely flat for storing and transporting to Grandma's, can be used from infancy until age two (longevity!), and doesn't scream 'DAYCARE' with bright primary colors. LOVE. A hint...this bouncer is coupon eligible at both Bed Bath & Beyond and Buy Buy Baby.

Solly Baby Wrap // I can not say enough good things about this wrap carrier. It is completely adjustable, making it easy for any body size or type to wear, is made from a lightweight breathable fabric, and has a super small footprint making it easy to throw in the diaper bag without taking up hardly any space. While at $65 it does seem a bit pricey for a piece of fabric, this has been one of the best investments I've made for baby #2, and I would happily purchase about three more colors if I could convince T! Highly recommend!

Baby Book & Journal // Before I had C, I had all kinds of time to create a scrapbook for his baby book. It was a labor of love to be sure, and I'm so happy to have it to look back at. Fast forward two years, and finding time to make a new scrapbook for baby with a busy toddler on my hands was not even close to in my deck of cards. Thankfully, I spotted this amazing baby book from Lucy Darling that I am equally happy with! The pages and colors are adorable, it's relatively simple, and it doesn't give me anxiety about keeping it up to date. There are also adorable girl versions if you have sparkles and bows in your life. On the same thread, but probably ranking even HIGHER on my list of amazing products I came across this time around...I give you the Promptly Journal. This journal goes from pregnancy through 18 years old, and offers prompts of what to write about at each age and minimal space for just one photo for each age (simplicity at it's finest!). I can't even tell you how excited I am to have this journal to fill out and keep track of all of baby's milestones. It has a beautiful linen hardcover, relevant questions for each age, and will be cherished for years to come. I am so excited to have found this book, and know that I will love to look back at it someday when my little people are no longer so little, or have littles of their own. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.

Traditional Medicinals Mother's Milk Tea // With my first babe, it took about a week for my milk to 'come in' as they say. This time around, it had come in by the time we left the hospital saving me from a painful start on our breastfeeding journey. To help keep my milk supply up, I've been drinking this tea which is loaded with herbs known to increase milk supply such as fenugreek, and blessed thistle. While I didn't necessarily need this to increase my supply, I did notice that after drinking it, baby G seemed to be more content to stretch feedings a bit longer. That alone is enough reason to promote it in my book!

Weekender Bag // After spotting this bag on another mommy blog I follow, I knew I had to have it. It is big enough to pack both kiddos and their diapers for a long weekend away, has great divided compartments for organization, and has been used too many times to count since G's arrival in July. I love that it folds down compactly when not in use, and isn't as bulky as a more structured suitcase for quick weekend getaways. I also have and LOVE the Overnighter for mom!

Sleepers // The first couple of months home with baby number two were all about survival mode. These sleepers proved to come in handy when looking for a quick outfit, and were perfect for use as a second 'blowout preparedness' outfit to toss in the diaper bag. The fact that they have a zipper instead of endless buttons to figure out in the middle of the night is also clutch. Also a bonus - fold over mittens to protect baby's face from scratches. Babies are teeny tiny for only such a short while, and these are super affordable, so I didn't feel too bad about stocking up!

Baby Blanket // I wanted G to have a special baby blanket that could become his favorite just like his big brother has. It was important to me that it be plain colored since it'll likely be featured in many photos, be a nice compact size for travel, and be super soft. I snagged this blanket for a steal during the Nordstrom Anniversary sale, and am so glad I did. It is very high quality and will be perfect for the upcoming colder than average winter that the Farmer's Almanac has predicted for this year! Now if I could just find one in an adult size.

What are your favorites? I'd love to hear!